The Beatles in Retreat - “I Beatles in Ritiro“ (Rishikesh, India, March 15th, 1968, Restored)

The Italian “Channel 7 News“ arrived a bit later but were given exclusive access to the Maharishi and his guests. Their footage was then made into an almost half-hour TV special called “I Beatles in Ritrio“ (The Beatles in Retreat). Apart from footage of Indian poverty and of the Maharishi and other non-Beatle guests, there was also some wonderful footage of the Fabs and the Maharishi walking down to the River Ganges for some fun in the sun including a sing-a-long with Paul, John, and Donovan on acoustic guitars. This is a copy taken from the TV station master tape and runs over 27 minutes in length. For whatever reason, the Beatles’ scenes have out-of-synch audio whereas other footage of Donovan singing is perfectly in synch. The special was re-broadcast on Italian TV at least twice in 1988 and 1993. This pristine copy has not as yet been bootlegged. #TheBeatles #WhiteAlbum #India #Rare